Yaya Toure emerges BBC African Footballer of the Year award 2015

Yaya Toure has been voted the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2015.

The 32-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder who was announced today as the BBC African Footballer of the year becomes only the third player, after Nigerians Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha from Nigeria, to receive the honour twice.

Football fans voted for Toure of Manchester City, who first won in 2013. The voting favour of football fans put Toure ahead of Yacine Brahimi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andre Ayew and Sadio Mane.

“I am very proud. To receive this dedication from the fans is unbelievable,” Toure told BBC Sport.

“Also I want to pay tribute to the other nominees. African football is growing up, becoming much better and we have fantastic young players coming through now.”

Toure described all five nominees as “champions”.

He added: “I am delighted and very happy. And as an African player, I want to lead all my younger brothers to be successful in the future.

“When I was a kid I was always dreaming of being an important player. I have sacrificed a lot.